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Minneapolis — There was this moment after the third Miami Dolphins preseason game when I asked Mike Pouncey if I could safely assume he would not be playing in the fourth and final preseason game.

The look on Pouncey’s face was priceless.

Even if he didn’t have an injury concern, Pouncey explained, he doesn’t play in the fourth and final preseason game.

And sure enough, most all of the Dolphins’ projected veteran starters were on the sideline at the picturesque U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday night.

Kenny Stills and Jay Ajayi and DeVante Parker — you name it.

All in sweat pants and sneakers.

All 11 of the men listed on the game’s flip card as Miami’s first-team offense sat this one out.

Kiko Alonso and Xavien Howard — you name it.

All in sweat pants and sneakers.

Nine of the 11 men listed on the game’s flip card as Miami’s first-team defense sat this one out.

It could be argued veteran corner Byron Maxwell could have used a few reps on this night, perhaps to help re-build his confidence. But it may have caused an issue if coach Adam Gase had asked Maxwell to play a few snaps.

So he sat this one out.

Remember last year when Ajayi was not thrilled to be playing in the preseason finale. And then he fumbled. And then he was benched for the opener. And then he was left off the team plane.

There is a certain invisible badge awarded to players who are held out of the preseason finale.

The message is clear — we cannot afford to have you hurt.

Even linebacker Mike Hull, who made the roster as a special teams dynamo last season, and yet is projected as a possible starter on opening day against Tampa Bay, was held out.

And so it was telling that two of the players who did play on Thursday night were:

• Jordan Phillips, defensive tackle, 2nd round draft choice in 2015.

• Kenyan Drake, running back, 3rd round draft choice in 2016.

The message to these two players was clear — you have the talent to make a positive impact.

But we need you to make an impact more consistently.

Drake showed in the preseason, and showed again Thursday night (1 touchdown, 8 carries for 27 yards in the first half) that he has explosiveness and shiftiness and should be a dangerous weapon for Gase.

Phillips has reacted well to a demotion to second team early in the preseason. Teammates say he’s working harder. The Dolphins have tried every strategy known to coaches to motivate the big man.

Starting the preseason finale when Suh and Wake and Andre Branch were all held out, should provide a crystal-clear message to the big man.

Play big. Play better.

On the first play of Thursday’s game, Phillips threw a running back to the ground.

Late in the second quarter, Phillips was spotted on the sideline, actively engaged in a conversation with teammates and coaches. Phillips was paying attention.

It was hard not to pay attention to tiny Jakeem Grant, who was the start of Miami’s preseason finale, of course.

Grant wanted to play and play he did.

Grant had 4 catches for 141 yards and a 65-yard touchdown.

All in the first half.

And he drew a pass interference. And he drew a holding.

I have seen Grant struggle catching the ball consistently in practice.

I have seen Grant make remarkable progress.

Credit Gase for realizing Grant’s greatest attribute is as a deep threat on the outside of the field. Again on Thursday, Grant was running past defensive backs and making plays a man that small shouldn’t, near a sideline time and time again.

Grant proved he belongs on the squad, either as a fourth or fifth receiver.

Join our reporters for a special evening as they talk NFL with Dolphins Pro Bowl Guard Jermon Bushrod, two-time Super Bowl champion Bob Kuechenberg and former Dolphins Pro Bowl linebacker Kim Bokamperon Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Bokamper’s Fort Lauderdale. The event is free to the first 100 people and will include raffles, light bites and drinks.